Pleasant Valley Manor union's concessions to be put to vote Oct. 9

Union workers at Pleasant Valley Manor will be asked to approve wage and benefit concessions Oct. 9 aimed at heading off possible sale of the county-affiliated nursing home to a private operator.

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By DAVID PIERCE

poconorecord.com

By DAVID PIERCE

Posted Sep. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By DAVID PIERCE

Posted Sep. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Union workers at Pleasant Valley Manor will be asked to approve wage and benefit concessions Oct. 9 aimed at heading off possible sale of the county-affiliated nursing home to a private operator.

Theresa Lipko of AFSCME Council 13 briefed about 40 employees on the proposal during two private meetings Thursday at Bono's Pizza in Brodheadsville. She declined to identify specifics prior to the vote, but the proposal includes a reduction in wages and fewer paid holidays, several workers who attended the sessions said.

They said a scheduled 2.5 percent raise next year would be reduced to a 1.5 percent hike. Some paid holidays — including Veterans Day — would become work days, and employees would lose an allowance to buy their uniforms. Some concessions would begin next month and continue through 2013.

Majority Monroe County commissioners have threatened to sell the 174-bed Snydersville home unless the county can end its annual subsidy to help the manor balance its books. The county has contributed $1 million to the home's operation during each of the past two years and is on pace to exceed $1 million this year.

The commissioners seek about $1.5 million in savings in 2013, including wage concessions from Premier, the management company that operates the home. It is unclear how much the union give-backs would save.

"They think this is a done deal, but this is no done deal until after the vote," said Lipko, who negotiated the proposal with management. "This is not final."

Premier also is giving up positions while seeking cheaper suppliers, Lipko said.

"They're working very hard, too," she said.

AFSCME represents a majority of the home's 265 employees, including nurses, nurse's aides, cleaning and cooking staff. The proposal produced widespread support from those attending the meetings.

But Cindy Beers of Kresgeville, a licensed practical nurse, objected to a provision she said would require nurses to give up half of their hour-long paid lunch break.

"The nurses are screwed," Beers said, adding the change only applies to nurses, yet all union workers would vote on it as part of the package. "I don't feel that's right. I wanted it separate — just the nurses to vote on it.

"There's no guarantees," she said of the concessions. "We could give this up, and it will still be sold."

Others, though, said they support measures that could keep the home from being sold.

"I'm willing to give back whatever I have to, provided I can feed my family," said Barbara Deppner of Effort, a nurse's aide for 15 years. "I have my job. We have people here (as residents) who built this community, and it's time to give back to them. Everyone who works there generally loves the residents."

Private operation of the home — currently overseen by a five-person nonprofit board that includes the three county commissioners — would be a mistake, she said.

"The union scales would drop down," Deppner said. "The care would be horrible."

"I don't mind giving things back to save the place," said Tammy Ross of Wind Gap, "but if in six or seven years they're going to sell it anyway, I don't want that."

Ross has worked in housekeeping and nursing care at Pleasant Valley Manor for 25 years.

Lipko noted Commissioner Suzanne McCool, who favors keeping the home in county hands, is working with Snydersville businesswoman Rose Schoch on a campaign to win private donations. AFSCME will organize its own fundraisers for the home, Lipko added.